Watford are arguably the most unfortunate team in the playoffs. Gianfranco Zola's team saw first-choice goalkeeper Manuel Almunia suffer a hamstring injury in the warm-up before the final game of the season against Leeds United.

And reserve keeper Jonathan Bond was then carried off following a bad collision during the match following a sickening collision with teammate Ikechi Anya.

Consequently, Jack Bonham was handed his debut, and the 19-year-old was at fault as Leeds opened the scoring and when Ross McCormack struck a late winner, which ensured Hull went up instead of the Vicarage Road side.

Now Zola must lift his team for the semifinal first leg at Leicester on Thursday, but the Hornets hold the psychological edge over the Foxes after guiding the team to two 2-1 victories over Nigel Pearson's team this season.

Bond has been in Milan to have a mask fitted to protect his broken nose in a bid to be fit for the semifinal first leg (Daily Mail), but Zola is hopeful that both injured goalkeepers will be ready for the game at the King Power Stadium (Watford Observer).

Watford will be looking to striker MatejVydra to rediscover his scoring form with Troy Deeney ruled out following his dismissal in the defeat to Leeds.

When Watford defeated Derby County on February 23, Vydra scored his 20th goal of the season, but the 20-year-old Czech Republic international has not scored for his club since then.

Michael Regan/Getty Images

Anthony Knockaerts celebrates his late winner for Leicester at Nottingham Forest.

Leicester, meanwhile, are the surprise entrants in the playoff semifinals. Two wins from their last three matches, notably the 3-2 victory at Nottingham Forest on the final day of the season, propelled the Foxes above Bolton and Forest into the top six of the Championship.

Before those two wins, manager Pearson had been under pressure after a run of one win in 13 league matches.

But Anthony Knockaert's 90th-minute winner at the City Ground on Saturday has boosted Leicester's confidence at the just the right time.

In the other semifinal, one of the fiercest rivalries in English football takes another twist when Crystal Palace play host to Brighton on Friday.

Who will join Cardiff and Hull in the Premier League next season?

Who will join Cardiff and Hull in the Premier League next season?

Watford

Brighton

Crystal Palace

38.8%

Leicester City

15.1%

Total votes: 1,366

On the pitch, however, there is nothing to separate the teams' head-to-head record with each club recording a 3-0 win in their home matches.

But Gus Poyet's Brighton have the momentum with four wins from their last five league matches, while Palace manager Ian Holloway saw his side win for the first time since Mar. 5 when they defeated Peterborough on Saturday.

Manchester United winger WilfriedZaha, who has been loaned back to Palace until the end of the season, will be looking for a winning end to his time at the club.

However, Brighton will be strong favourites to reach the playoff final later this month.